ital was officially moved from Lagos to Abuja;
many government offices remain in Lagos pending completion of facilities in
Abuja
Administrative divisions:
30 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Abuja Capital Territory*, Adamawa, Akwa, Ibom, Anambra,
Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo,
Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo,
Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe
Independence:
1 October 1960 (from UK)
Constitution:
1 October 1979, amended 9 February 1984, revised 1989
Legal system:
based on English common law, Islamic law, and tribal law
National holiday:
Independence Day, 1 October (1960)
Political parties and leaders:
Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Baba Gana KINGIBE, chairman; National
Republican Convention (NRC), Chief Tom IKIMI, chairman
note:
these are the only two political parties, and they were established by the
government in 1989
Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
first presidential elections since the 31 December 1983 coup scheduled for
June 1993
Senate:
last held 4 July 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (total 84) SDP 47, NRC 37
House of Representatives:
last held 4 July 1992 (next to be held NA 1996); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (total 577) SDP 310, NRC 267
Executive branch:
president, vice-president, cabinet
Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of an upper house or Senate and a lower
house or House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeal
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Gen. Ibrahim BABANGIDA
(since 27 August 1985); Vice-President Admiral (Ret.) Augustus AIKHOMU
(since 30 August 1990)

*Nigeria, Government

Member of:
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMO, IMF, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UNAVEM, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNPROFOR, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Zubair Mahmud KAZAURE
chancery:
2201 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:
(202) 822-1500
consulate general:
New York
US diplomatic representation: